We've all heard of the Dyson Airwrap. It's the hair tool of all hair tools. It's the best hair dryer, best straightener and best curling wand all wrapped into one. The only problem? It's also pretty expensive.
Since the popular tool came out, lots of brands have released their own versions, and some are much more affordable than you'd think. But, are they any good? Dyson loyalists will say that nothing beats the original hair styler but, in my opinion, there are some serious contenders on the market right now. I have tested lots of Dyson Airwrap alternatives and many of them do a seriously impressive job. Just check out my video below.
You don’t need to just take my word for it though. To give this piece as much breadth as possible I enlisted the help of the Marie Claire UK team who, as beauty and shopping experts, have tried a fair few hair tools in their time - some of which honestly do give scarily similar results to the iconic Dyson Airwrap.
Our testing criteria:
- What’s the price? Price is important. We already adore the Dyson Airwrap, but we’re looking for affordable alternatives here - all of the tools you’ll see in this list are under £270 (a bargain compared to Dyson’s £479.99 offering).
- How many functions does it have? The Airwrap is famed for its versatility, with various detachable heads that can be used for multiple purposes. Alternative tools with multiple head attachments will be given extra brownie points.
- How easy is it to use? Is the tool lightweight? Does it have a rotating head? These were all burning questions as we tested out these tools.
- What were the results? Obviously we’re not going to recommend hair tools that don’t deliver. Whether it was the volumising and smoothing effects or the effortless-yet-professional-looking finish, the results these tools provided reminded us in some way of the Dyson Airwrap.
It was only right that we shared these recommendations with you, so keep on scrolling for all the information you need, and get ready to say hello to your best hair yet (for less).
The best affordable Dyson Airwrap alternatives
1. Shark FlexStyle 4-In-1 Air Styler and Hair Dryer
If you're after a tool that is extremely similar to the Airwrap but roughly half the price, the Shark FlexStyle is just that. It comes with very comparable attachments to the Airwrap and functions in a similar way to style the hair, taking it from wet to dry.
"I have both the Airwrap and the FlexStyle and there are many similarities. However, I find that the FlexStyle is slightly more heavy duty in its air flow, meaning it's best suited to those with hair that needs a little more elbow grease to look its best.
"It will take your hair from wet to styled pretty effortlessly, and there are different attachments available for different hair types. I love the diffuser for my waves, but the curling barrels (with the same Coanda technology as the Airwrap) do an excellent job at a salon-worthy blow dry.
"The attachments are very easy to click into place and there are three heat and power settings, as well as a cool shot to set the style, so you can customise it to your hair's needs.
"I will say that I find it to be bulkier than the Airwrap and slightly heavier, which is something to keep in mind if you're going to be spending a while drying your hair. It still isn't a cheap tool, but if you can't quite stretch to the Airwrap cost, this is a very worthy alternative." - Amelia Yeomans, Junior Shopping Editor
2. Mermade Hair Blowdry Brush
It can take a little while to get the hang of this tool, but Tara Simich, founder of Mermade Hair, has lots of tips and tricks. "The tool can be used on wet hair to give it a salon quality blowout, or on dry hair to revive your mane. For volume, section hair and use a heat protectant and holding spray - our Mermade Mist combines both - then on each layer place the oval brush near the root and brush away from the head while gently rotating."
"The more you angle the brush to the ceiling, the more volume you will get. For more curve, wrap the hair around the barrel and hold for a few seconds." Easy, right?
"If a simple but effective blow dry brush is what you're after, then this is the one for you. I was so impressed by this hair tool from Mermade Hair, and for the price, you really can't go wrong. The combination of a hair dryer and round brush means you can dry and style your hair at the same time, for that 'just left the salon' look.
The brush comes with three heat settings so you can choose one that best suits you. I have pretty thick, naturally curly hair that can take a while to dry, so I tend to use the hottest setting. The result? Sleek, straight hair that would usually take me hours to achieve. I still use my straighteners to add that finishing touch, but this tool has made my life so much easier, and I don't think I will ever use my normal hairdryer again." - Grace Lindsay, Beauty Contributor
3. Revlon One-Step Volumiser Plus
I'm sure you've all heard of the Revlon blow dry brush, but did you know that the brand now has the Revlon One-Step Volumiser Plus? This brush is a new and improved version of the original bestseller, and I'm a big fan.
Similar to the Mermade Hair tool, this brush comes with an oval head to help add volume. What I love about this head though is the fact that it is detachable, making the brush easy to pack in an overnight bag or suitcase.
It comes with four heat settings, including a cold setting that can be used to lock in the style. The ceramic titanium barrel provides even heat distribution, which helps to reduce damage.
"I've owned and loved this blow dry brush for ages, as somebody with lots of fine hair, my hair is both flyaway-prone and has a tendency to fall flat if I straighten it too much. Luckily, this tool smoothens, volumises, and straightens in one go, plus at under £50 it's an absolute bargain. Do note: it's best used when your hair is damp rather than sopping wet." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
"This is definitely one of the most powerful blow dry brushes I have ever tried. All I do when I get out the shower is brush out my hair, remove any excess water with a towel, apply a heat protectant and I'm good to go. I always section my hair for the best results, and pop the brush on the high setting, as the brand recommends using this if you have thick hair." - Grace Lindsay, Beauty Contributor
4. Bellissima Air Wonder 8 in 1 Hot Air Styler
"If you're wanting to invest in a slightly more advanced styler, but still don't want to spend a fortune, then I can't recommend the Bellissima Air Wonder enough. In fact, it might be one of my favourite hair tools ever.
What I love about this one is that it comes with eight different attachments, meaning you can create lots of different styles. My go-to attachment is the 'Smooth and Delicate Brush', which gently untangles your hair and creates the perfect canvas to create whatever look you want.
It also comes with oval brushes, an extra wavy brush, a curling iron and more. It has a special ceramic and keratin coating that protects the hair, and ions that help maintain hydration. What more could you want? In my opinion, this is one of the most similar options to the original Dyson Airwrap, making it an amazing alternative." - Grace Lindsay, Beauty Contributor
"I absolutely adore this tool. It offers a ton of variety in the eight head attachments - from smoothening and straightening results to the perfect bouncy curls. I can't quite believe it's under £100, you'll be getting so much for your money." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
5. BaByliss Hydro Fusion Hot Air Styler
This tool comes with a 50mm rotating ceramic barrel, which comes with soft polishing bristles for smoothness. It has two rotation speeds and two heat settings, plus a cool setting so that you can set your style into place.
"I love the fact that the brush can spin, as it allows you to have full control over the tool and you can get it right up to the root of your hair." - Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
"The rotating head on this tool is a real game changer, if you have a lot of hair it can take some effort to wrap entire sections around the tool manually, so this is great for when you want a quick and effective blow dry. I love that you can change the direction at the push of a button, so you won't have to hold the tool awkwardly to get your perfect curled ends." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
6. Amika Hair Round Blow Dryer Brush 2.0
The Amika Hair Round Blow Dryer Brush 2.0 comes with both short and long bristles, and three adjustable heat settings so you can choose whatever works best for you. The short bristles are designed to increase bounce and shine, whilst the long ones are designed to detangle and smooth. Win win.
"The fact that this one has a large barrel might put you off at first, however, it means that you can dry your hair much quicker than normal. It's also surprisingly lightweight, so no achy arms here. If you have long or thick hair, this might be the one for you." - Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
7. Revlon One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Styler
"I'd heard Grace wax lyrical about the Revlon One-Step Volumiser Plus and seen it all over my TikTok For You page. So when I found out Revlon had a brand new One-Step Blow-Dry Multi Styler with more attachments than the viral tool, I just had to try it. I have super thick, long hair and never got on with the Dyson Airwrap before, so I was super excited to try this.
When I opened the box, I was impressed by the three attachments and how easy it was to use and figure out which works for different styles. The comb preps the hair for styling and focuses on drying the roots, which is helpful for a thick-haired girl like me. I started with the root drying concentrator comb, dramatically reducing my drying time and making it much easier to style.
I usually spend an hour using the best curling wand after drying my hair, but this tool has a 32mm curling barrel attachment that gives the most gorgeous loose curls. I didn't need to go in with my usual wand after, and it saved me at least an hour.
I'd seen the brush all over TikTok, and it was the same as Grace's favourite above and gave my roots the most volume they had seen in a while.
I was on the hunt for a Dyson Airwrap alternative because I hadn't made it work for me before, so I tried the tool with One-Step Paddle Brush Head Attachment, too, and I was so impressed with how quickly it dried my hair and kept it sleek. For only £75, I would recommend this to anyone looking for an Airwrap alternative as it's so simple to set up and use, you can get the look you're after the first time round." - Dionne Brighton, Social Media Editor
8. Shark SmoothStyle Heated Brush and Comb
"I love that this one tool can be used on both wet and dry hair - it saves so much time and space. I use it in wet mode to fully dry my hair after showering, then use the dry mode (AKA the hot brush) to straighten my hair once it's dry. I usually stay away from traditional straighteners as they can make my hair fall super flat, but the heated comb element of this tool allows me to really lift from the root, creating the volume and sleek finish that I crave. It creates a smooth style with loads of bounce, so if your hair falls on the finer side and you prefer to style your hair straight, this is the tool for you." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
9. Hershesons Multi-Tasker
Whether you want to create a bouncy blow-dry or a tousled beachy look, the new Hershesons Multi-Tasker comes with three different styling attachments depending on your hair length. For shorter styles, there’s a 25mm curling wand and 30mm and 38mm thermal brushes to style and polish. Longer hair can choose a set containing a 33mm wand, a 45mm thermal brush and a 32mm waver for mermaid hair. Plus, both sets house away neatly in a chic cobalt blue bag.
“I’m genuinely rubbish at styling my hair and get so anxious about using new hair tools, but this multi-tasker from Hershesons is genuinely foolproof. It’s possibly the lightest styling tool I’ve ever used in my life which means you can really spend the time creating a bouncy blowout or perfecting your effortless curls without coming away with an arm ache. Plus, I love the fact that it utilises thermal heat technology so your hard work actually stays in place all day. My hair is naturally really frizzy but I’ve been blown away at how easy it has been to create a smooth, volumised style in minutes with this. Bravo, Hershesons.”
So, there you have it. The best Dyson Airwrap alternatives. Which one will you go for?
